45% polling booths in Gujarat sensitive

Of the 50,128 polling booths across the state, more than 45 per cent of the polling stations have been identified as 'sensitive' or 'vulnerable'-- a 15 per cent rise when compared to the 2012 polls. The assessment was the result of the detailed reports submitted by the district authorities ahead of the hotly-anticipated state elections. Against the 44,500 polling stations in the 2012 elections, 30 per cent were identified as sensitive, while this time, the number is up to 45 per cent, even as the Gujarat government is facing pressure due to the ongoing agitation, sources said. Polls in Gujarat will be held in two phases -- on December 9 and 14 -- while the results will be announced on December 18.Sources in governRead full story

ment said, "All the district authorities have submitted the details on sensitive or vulnerable polling stations, and out of around 50,000 booths, 23,500 booths have been categorised under the sensitive and vulnerable category. The categorisation further divides into very sensitive, sensitive and less sensitive booths, with the majority of them falling under the very sensitive booths category. If we look at the areas, very sensitive and vulnerable booths fall in the districts where the agitations by different communities like Patel, Thakor and Dalit was at their peak in the last few years."Another source said, "The steep rivalry between two parties -- BJP and Congress -- along with the heavyweight candidates from both the parties fighting for the same seats has been a factor for the increase in the number of sensitive and vulnerable booths. The Election Commission has strictly directed to not reveal the details on sensitive or vulnerable booths in Gujarat polls so as no one can unduly benefit from the prevailing situation," added the sources.The EC has also taken an extra precautionary measures of having procured additional security forces to be deployed to maintain the law and order situation. Sources from the EC said, "Besides local police forces, the CRPF and other paramilitary forces, and security forces from neighbouring states will be deployed to maintain the law and order condition in Gujarat polls.""There will be multi-level monitoring of all the booths, in which the sensitive booths will be monitored by the election commission directly through webcasting. The video recording, micro observers and security forces will act as other covers on the polling station to avoid any kind of consequences that affect the peaceful polling procedure," added the sources.Chief Electoral Officer, BB Swain, said, "We are getting information from different district authorities and that is why there is no detail available on number of sensitive booths. The Election Commission is committed towards fair and free polls in Gujarat."

More on Top News

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed all criminal proceedings against Malayalam actor Priya Prakash Varrier, who shot to fame with her wink in a promotional song from the yet-to-be released film Oru Adaar Love. The wink, that has taken social media

Mumbai: Despite Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s absence from the state and a creeping feeling of political instability, the opposition Congress said it would not pull down the BJP-led minority government in Goa. However, the party claimed tha

Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Wednesday launched his political party “Makkal Needhi Maiam (Centre for People’s Justice)” and declared that his party “is for the people.”“This is a party for you, for the people. I am onl